Earthquake Preparedness

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Earthquake Preparedness

• Gavi Begtrup
• Zettl Group Safety Talk
• 10/16/06

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California, the Land of Earthquakes
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Earthquakes All the Time
http//earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/
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Earthquake Damage
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Be Prepared

• USGS Guide
• http//pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15/
• Preparation website
• http//www.72hours.org/
• Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
• http//seismo.berkeley.edu/faq/preparedness.html

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(No Transcript)
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What to do When It Hits (LBL)

• During an Earthquake
• If You Are Inside Stay calm. If you are indoors,
  stay there. Get under a desk or table and hang on
  to it, or stand under an inner doorway or in an
  inside corner of a room. Stay clear of windows,
  tall bookcases, and experimental setups. Do not
  rush outside you could be injured by glass or
  pieces falling from buildings. Do not use the
  stairs or elevators while the building is
  shaking.
• If You Are Outside If you are outside, get into
  the open, away from buildings and overhead power
  lines. Watch out for falling rocks and other
  debris that could have been loosened by the
  quake.
• If You Are Driving If you are driving, stop in a
  safe open area away from buildings, trees, and
  overhead power lines. Stay inside your car. Do
  not stop or park close to the edge of a hill,
  because the road may give way and you and your
  car could slide down.
• http//www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub811/moreinfo/earthquake.
  html

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After the Quake (LBL)

• What to Do Provide assistance, account for
  others in your area, but do not re-enter the
  building looking for them. Remember that
  aftershocks and subsequent earthquakes can be
  even more damaging than the initial shock.
• Check for Injuries Persons in your area may be
  injured or trapped. Summon or provide medical or
  rescue help if you can otherwise, notify your
  Building Manager or call ext. 7911. Do not
  attempt to move seriously injured persons unless
  they are in immediate danger of further injury.
• Check for Fires and Potential Hazards Check for
  gas leaks. Shut off the main gas valve if a leak
  is suspected. DO NOT smoke or light matches. DO
  NOT operate electrical switches or appliances. If
  a gas leak exists, these actions could cause an
  explosion.
• Check for any hazardous chemical spills and for
  the release of any radioactive materials. If you
  suspect such hazards, evacuate the area
  immediately, and then call extension 7911.
• Evacuate the Building and Await Further
  Instructions
• Leave the building/area and go directly to your
  specified assembly area. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE
  THE ELEVATORS. Await instructions from the
  Security, the Fire Department, or from a member
  of the Building Emergency Team.
• Do not try to leave the Laboratory by car. Roads
  and access routes, if not blocked by landslides,
  must be kept clear for emergency vehicle use.

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Securing the Lab

• OSHA does not regulate earthquake safety, so the
  campus suggests prudent practices, not
  regulations.
• Secure objects over 4 high
• Do not place heavy objects high up
• When putting things on shelves, keep in mind the
  following questions
• Will this hurt me if it falls on me?
• Will this obstruct an exit if it falls?
• If this expensive and will break if it falls?

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Q-Brace (campus)

• Q-BRACE (Quake Bracing Assistance) is back!
  When an earthquake shakes unrestrained objects,
  they can slide, swing, overturn, or strike people
  or other objects. File cabinets, freestanding
  bookshelves, office equipment, and items stored
  on shelves or racks can all cause serious
  injuries by their movement during an earthquake.
  Most injuries that occur during earthquakes are
  caused by the movement of the buildings
  contents, not by the movement of the building
  itself. The Q-BRACE program provides matching
  funds to campus departments to address
  non-structural seismic safety hazards. The
  process in a nutshell Department Safety
  Coordinator (DSC) or designate conducts
  inspections of department areasDepartment
  obtains a cost estimate for the projected
  improvementsGrant application and cost estimate
  is submitted to the Office of Environment, Health
  Safety (EHS).After funds are granted, the
  department has spring, summer, and most of fall
  to complete the work. The grant funding for
  successful applications will be equal to half of
  the cost estimate. The maximum award per
  application is 5,000 for an estimated 10,000
  project. Deadline this year is May 5, 2006.
  (application period is over for this year)
• We may be eligible for unclaimed money that was
  awarded to the physics department. We should make
  a list of projects and submit them to Eleanor
  Crump.
• http//www.ehs.berkeley.edu/qbrace.html

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Q-Brace Guidelines

• Securement details for the following
• Computers
• Door and Door Lathcres
• File Cabinets
• Position against walls and fasten to wall
• Shelving
• Bookshelves over three feet tall should be
  fastened to wall (best) or at least fastened to
  the floor. If not against wall, should be
  connected back to back
• Library shelving systems require evaluation by
  the Library Architect or campus building
  inspector (?)
• Shelf Restraints
• Shelves containing heavy hardbound books or
  artifacts should have shelf restraints to prevent
  the objects from becoming potentially deadly
  airborne missiles. (Emphasis added)
• Need minimum lip of 2. Large or fragile
  containers should be restrained by individual
  straps.
• http//www.ehs.berkeley.edu/qbrace/qbrace.guid.htm
  l

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Examples of Securement
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More Examples
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Lab Equipment

• Compressed gas containers
• cylinders and tanks should be protected against
  tipping, falling and rolling. The best way to do
  this is to chain or cable the top AND bottom of
  each container to a fixed object like the wall or
  a rack. Multiple containers can be chained or
  cabled into a rack.
• Benchtop Equipment
• Refrigerators